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World J Psychiatr. Dec 19, 2021; 11(12): 1247-1258
Published online Dec 19, 2021. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v11.i12.1247
Factors related to compliance with the COVID-19 health regulations among young people
Joana Jaureguizar, Iratxe Redondo, Nuria Galende, Naiara Ozamiz
Joana Jaureguizar, Iratxe Redondo, Nuria Galende, Naiara Ozamiz, Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of the Basque Country, Lejona 48940, Bizkaia, Spain
Author contributions: Jaureguizar J, Redondo I, Galende N and Ozamiz N contributed equally to this work and wrote the manuscript; All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they do not have conflicts of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Joana Jaureguizar, PhD, Lecturer, Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of the Basque Country, B. Sarriena s/n, Lejona 48940, Bizkaia, Spain. joana.jauregizar@ehu.eus
Received: February 26, 2021
Peer-review started: February 26, 2021
First decision: May 5, 2021
Revised: June 10, 2021
Accepted: November 2, 2021
Article in press: November 2, 2021
Published online: December 19, 2021
Processing time: 291 Days and 17.2 Hours
Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic has affected all facets of our lives and all ages and social strata worldwide. Measures have been taken to protect against the spread of the virus, such as more rigorous hand hygiene, the use of face masks and social distancing. However, the focus has often been on young people, who have been seen as a group lacking sufficient respect for government-imposed measures. This review outlines the preventive measures that have been taken in different countries and discusses their specific impact on young people and adolescents, taking into account the developmental stage and concrete needs of this age group. It summarizes those studies that have provided information on compliance with preventive measures by young people and adolescents, concluding that although compliance levels among this age group are lower than among older adults, the general view of youths as non-compliant is not consistent with real, objective data. The review also summarizes different views regarding the possible reasons for this lower level of compliance, taking into account both social (gender and age) and personal factors (personality, empathy, prosociality, self-control, cognitive styles and motivations), and discusses the practical implications of these findings for the future.

Keywords: COVID-19; Health regulations; Compliance; Young people; Adolescents

Core Tip: The effects of health regulations designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 virus may be much more intense and pernicious among young people than adults. Social and personal factors, as well as the level of information to which one is exposed, peer influence and the number of elderly people one knows are factors that may help us understand why it is more challenging for young people to comply with the established measures. This greater insight may help us design more effective preventive strategies and awareness raising campaigns, so that we can be better prepared for future crises.